Foldable tent

ABSTRACT

A foldable tent ( 10 ) comprising a frame ( 11 ) with a cover ( 12 ) and ground sheet ( 13 ) affixed thereto. The frame comprises a plurality of U-shaped frame members ( 14 ), each having a base ( 25 ) from which extend two arms ( 26 &amp;  27 ). The group of arms ( 26 ) are pivotally connected to each other, as are the group of arms ( 27 ). Each arm ( 26 &amp;  27 ) is rigidly attached to a base end member ( 32 &amp;  33 ) which is pivotally connected to the base ( 25 ), whereby in the folded position the arms ( 26 &amp;  27 ) fold parallel to the base ( 25 ) with the end members ( 32 &amp;  33 ) preferably lying normal to the base ( 25 ) and the arms ( 26 &amp;  27 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the construction of tent frames, andmore particularly to the construction of a tent with its coveringmaterial fixed to the frame to facilitate quick and easy erection of thetent.

It is a general disadvantage of known tents that they are generallycomplex and therefore difficult and time consuming to erect. Also thisadds to the manufacturing costs.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many attempts have been made to provide a tent which is both easilyerected and of simple construction. The following is a list of suchattempts.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,960,993 discloses a tent having U-shaped frame members,which are of a telescoping construction, to assist in the folding of theframe, with the cover sheet fixed to the frame. The telescoping natureof the frame members makes the tent construction generally complex, andthe erection is not straight forward and is generally time consuming.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,721, discloses a tent having U-shaped frame members,but the cover sheet and ground sheet are affixed to the frame after theframe has been erected. Thus the erection of the tent is not straightforward and is generally time consuming.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,123 discloses a tent which has a frame of agenerally U-shaped construction, but has a zipper fastener on the groundsheet to facilitate folding of the frame. Again this adds to the costand complexity of the tent.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,995, by Guiseppe Viglione, overcomes most of thedisadvantages of the prior art. However the present invention providesan improvement of this U.S. patent in that it provides a tent of thesame folded size as an equivalent tent made in accordance with U.S. Pat.No. 4,748,995, but which folds out to a larger size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one broad form the invention comprises a foldable tent comprising:

a frame;

and a cover and ground sheet fixed to the frame so as to provide anenclosed living area when said tent is erected,

said frame comprising a plurality of frame members, each of generallyU-shaped configuration, with an elongated base having two arms extendingtherefrom, with the arms cooperating to form two frame sides,

a pivot assembly for each frame side to which the free ends of the armsof the respective side frames are attached so that the arms of eachframe side pivot about a first folding axis on said respective pivotassembly, whereby said frame members are pivotal from a first foldedposition, wherein said frame members are in a an abutted relationship,to an erected position in which the frame members are angularly spacedabout said first folding axes,

brace means extending between said frame members to support the framemembers in the erected position,

an end member located at each end of the base and pivotally connectedthereto, wherein the respective arms are rigidly connected to theextremity of the respective end member, thereby enabling pivoting of theend member and attached arm, about a second folding axis extendinggenerally within the plane of the respective base and normal to thedirection of extension of the base member and the arm, whereby in theerected position the arms project away from the base, with the secondaxes of the arms of a side being generally coterminous when the tent isfolded, the end members of the first side being longer than the endmembers of the second side so that in the folded position the arms ofthe second side lies between the bases and the arms the first side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred form of the invention will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a foldable tent according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the tent shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the frame of the tent shown in FIG. 1, ina partially folded position,

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional end view of the bracing employed in thetent shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the frame shown in FIG. 2, in apartially folded position;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the frame shown in FIG. 2, in acompletely folded position; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a corner assembly of the frame shown inFIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 there is schematically depicted a tent (10) having a frame(11) which supports a cover sheet (12) which rest upon a ground sheet(13). The frame (11) comprises a plurality of frame members (14), eachof general U-shaped configuration. The frame members (14) are formed ofmetal tubing having a rectangle or square cross section. The cover sheet(12) and the ground sheet (13) are permanently fixed to the framemembers (14) by straps (15).

The sheet (12) provides a roof surface (16), a rear wall (17) and twoside walls (18). The front wall of the tent (10) is provided with one ormore foldable panels (19) which provide access to the interior of thetent.(10).

It should be appreciated that the tent (10) is self supporting and willgenerally not require anchoring to the ground. However if the weatherconditions so require it, the tent (10) could be tied down by means oflines (20). Still further the ground sheet (13) could be provide witheyelets adjacent its periphery through which pegs could be driven tofurther aid in anchoring the tent (10) to the ground.

The frame members (14) are held in an erected position by means ofbraces (21 & 22). One extremity of the brace (22) is pivotally attachedto the frame member (14) resting on the ground while one extremity ofthe brace member (21) is pivotally attached to the frame member (14)which is generally vertically extending, as shown in FIG. 2. The othertwo extremities of the braces (21 & 22) are attached to a slide (23),slidably received in a channel (24) defined in the frame member (14), asshown in FIG. 4.

Each of the frame members (14) is of generally U-shaped configuration soas to have an elongated base (25) from which extends two arms (26 & 27).Each of the arms (26 & 27) can be attached to its associated base (25)by means of a corner assembly (28), as shown in FIG. 7.

The extremities of the arms (26) are pivotally attached to a pivotassembly (29) while the extremities of the arms (27) are pivotallyattached to a pivot assembly (30). Thus the frames 14 are able to pivotabout the same or a plurality of parallel axes so as pivot from anerected position as shown in FIG. 2 to a folded position as shown inFIG. 3. Preferably the ground engaging member (14) fixed to the pivotassemblies (29 & 30).

Each of the arms (26 & 27) are rigidly attached to the respective baseend members (32 & 33), which are pivotally attached to the base (25) bymeans of pins (31). The pins (31) define pivot axes normal to the axisor axes defined by the pivot assemblies (29 & 30). The end member (32)is longer than the end member (33). The relative lengths of the portions(32 & 33) enables folding of the legs (26 & 27) to the position shown inFIG. 5 with the cover sheet (12) and the ground sheet (13) stillattached to the frame.

Each corner assembly (28) comprises a corner member (34) having twoprojections (35), which mate within the associated member to be joined.Fasteners are then passed through the holes (36) to effect a join.

Because the arms (26 & 27) and their respective base end members (33 &32) pivot from positions along the base (25), a fully folded tent ofless length than the length of the base is obtained. Further a largertent, made in accordance to the present invention compared to that madein accordance to U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,995, can be folded out from thesame length folded package.

It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that variations andmodifications can be made to the above description without departingfrom the scope or spirit of the present invention.

The claims defining the invention are:
 1. A foldable tent comprising: aframe; and a cover and ground sheet fixed to the frame so as to providean enclosed living area when said tent is erected; said frame comprisinga plurality of frame members each of a generally U-shaped configuration;each frame member having an elongate base member having a first andsecond end and two elongate arms extending respectively from said ends,such that said arms of respective frame members when erected cooperateto form first and second frame sides; each frame side having a pivotassembly to which the free ends of the arms of the respective sideframes are attached so that the arms of each frame side pivot about afirst folding axis on said respective pivot assembly, whereby said framemembers are pivotal from a first folded position, wherein said framemembers are in an abutted relationship, to an erected position in whichthe frame members are angularly spaced about said first folding axes,brace means extending between said frame members to support the framemembers in the erected position; first and second end members locatedrespectively at said first and second ends of said base member andpivotally connected thereto, wherein the respective arms are rigidlyconnected to the extremity of the respective end member, therebyenabling pivoting of the end member and attached arm, about a secondfolding axis extending generally within the plane of the respective basemember and normal to the direction of extension of the base member andthe arms, whereby in an erected position the arms project away from thebase member, the end members lie colinearly to the respective elongatedbase member and when the tent is in a folded position the arms aregenerally parallel to said base member, wherein the first end members ofthe first frame side are longer than the second end members of thesecond frame side such that in the folded position the arms of thesecond frame side lie between the base members and the arms of the firstframe side.
 2. A foldable tent according to claim 1 wherein said bracemeans comprises rigid brace members pivotally attached to a frame memberand at another end of said brace member attached to another of saidbrace members and a slide, which slide travels along an intermediateframe member so that when said tent is in said erected position, saidslide has travelled past an over centre position, whereupon one of theframe members provides a generally upwardly extending end face of thetent.
 3. A foldable tent according to claim 1 wherein each of said framemembers are substantially identical and one of said frame members isadapted to rest on a ground surface and is fixed to said pivotassemblies.
 4. A tent according to claim 3, wherein there are three ofsaid frame members comprising a floor frame member, an intermediateframe member and an end face member, and each side of said tent has apair of brace members forming said brace means, with a first of eachpair extending between said floor frame member and said intermediatemember, and the other of said pair extending between said intermediatemember and said end face member.
 5. A foldable tent according to claim4, wherein the brace members of each side are each pivotally attached tosaid frame members and are further slidably attached to saidintermediate frame members.
 6. A foldable tent according to claim 1,wherein said cover and ground sheet are sealingly affixed together.
 7. Afoldable tent according to claim 1, wherein the frame members are formedof tubing of rectangular cross-section.
 8. A foldable tent according toclaim 1, wherein the arms of the frame members extend at right anglesfrom the respective end members.